Sense of Adventure
Mother's brother Babe Shaw and his wife Francis
One of my fondest memories of my childhood, was that usually on Friday nights, my aunt and uncle would pop over, and we’d all go out. Nothing fancy, but we’d try out the new restaurants that had opened, or simplyh one we hadn’t been to yet.
Not all were good, in fact most were either just okay, or simply not a place to go to, again. It was that bad!
It was fun, and different. Every weekend was an adventure, and I remember how we would wait for Dad to get home from work. How he would come in tired, or if he was already home from working the morning shift, how he’d be resting or something, and be the one who always needed coaxing to go.
Odd, because I always think of my Dad as being the one who was out there, who was the ‘people person’ while Mom was the more reserved, shy one. Yet she was always the one ready to go, who would cajole Dad into getting dressed, and coming along.
Yet he was the life of the party too. I mean it is strange out that worked out.
Annice Shaw Kovnats
My mother was born in Canada, in the month of May, in the year 1917.
She was born to Rebecca Shaw in the town of Vegraville, Alberta. My grandfather ( Moshe Shaw ) was a sweet gentle man, who I wish I had gotten to know, however he passed away when I was just four years old.
My Grandmother, had leukemia and passed away in her early eighties. I miss her today, because she was such a sweet & kind person. Bubba Becky had four children, Manual, Solomon, Lilian, and Annice.
Mom was the youngest and is the only surviving child.
Mom married my father on January 21 1942. Now that is some time ago, and until dad died 7 years ago, they were always together, sharing everything. In fact, it was a date that seemed almost magical to me, which is why David & I got married on that very same date. I mean they stuck together, in love with each other, for 61 years.
Sure they had their fights, but at the end, you could see that they still loved each other, just as if it was when they had first met. Though looking at them, I’d say their love was even greater, even after all those years together. Tough times they had, but it was their love for each other, that held them together, that made them truly a team.
Who knows, maybe their luck will pass on to us?
Mom is a quiet person. She rarely raised her voice, and yet, when she was angry, you knew it. She didn’t get that way often, least not so I remember, but when she did, she had this way about her, still does, that can bring a full boar charging rhino to its knees. She has a lot of courage, and yet, is truly a warm hearted person. She’s one of those types, that always looks for the good in a person, never accepting their badness.
It is hard for me to describe her, how she is, but there is a kind of strength that you can feel. Maybe not see it, but it is there, a sort of courage, that you can rely on when things are really bad. I know Dad often relied on her, for that, and I find, so do I. Maybe a bit less than I used to, but she is my rock. At least now, I know what that phrase truly means.
I have an excellent example, in my mom.
What it is all about
My name is Ian, and this is my tribute to my Mother, Annice Shaw Kovnats.
No she isn’t anyone famous, didn’t invent anything, and no, she isn’t dead either. I hope to not face that particular aspect of life, for some years to come, but as much as I can hope, reality has a way of kicking you in the face.
To begin with, Mother is ninety two years old. We aren’t rich, never have been, and yet, I think we do all right. I know it bothered Dad, but then we all want to provide the best for our families, don’t we? Maybe he let it bother him too much, but like I said, reality has a way of ruining one’s dreams.
None of us ever thought Dad would be the first to die. I mean he was always moving around, doing things, even at 85, and yet, he is gone today, and Mom, who had many health issues, is still around, doing not bad for an old girl her age.
So I figure, I need something to look back on, to record my thoughts, my memories, and why not share them? After all, isn’t that part of the fun of the Internet?
